The Shallotte Planning Board has approved expansion of an existing business and moved the process forward for the opening of two new businesses.

At its Tuesday night meeting, the board approved a site plan amendment for Timbercraft Construction, a cabinetry business on Whiteville Road, to allow the company to add a 1,380 square-foot attached storage building.

According to town planner Allen Serkin, the amendment is a minor one. The owner has also agreed to add stripes to the parking lot.

The Humane Society of the United States and The Humane Society Wildlife Land Trust are offering a $2,500 reward for information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for breaking the wings of 10 brown pelicans in Brunswick County.

Between Dec. 17 and Dec. 31, 2009, 10 pelicans were found washed ashore on Bald Head Island, Oak Island, Holden Beach and Caswell Beach. The birds were suffering from broken wings. Some of the birds had drowned, and the rest had to be euthanized as a result of their injuries.

The new director of government relations for Time Warner Cable’s Wilmington area promised the company would do a better job serving Holden Beach after hearing a boatload of complaints from Holden Beach commissioners and homeowners during the town’s regular board meeting Tuesday night.

Eric Collins heard complaints about repaired lines being left above ground for as long as six months, shoddy picture quality and price, among other things.

Students at Lincoln Elementary School climb out of the UH-60 Blackhawk Helicopter on Monday morning. The helicopter landed at the school to kick off the STARBASE program, a weeklong educational program that teaches fifth-graders hands-on science, math, technology and teamwork skills. Fifth-grade teacher Jan Boone said the program correlates with the science curriculum. Students learn aerodynamics, engage in a flight simulation activity, test Newton’s three laws of motion, and build and launch rockets at the end of the program.